Maurice Lee

Background

He was born and grew up in Hays, Kansas. There he learned from his father about helping others in a rural environment and living a life based on the Sermon on the Mount.

Education

He received a Bachelor of Surgery degree from Iowa State University, Ames, earned Master of Surgery and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in mechanics and hydraulics from The University of Iowa, and received a Doctorate.Phys.Sc.

Career

Having witnessed economic hardship at the time of the Great Depression and seeing the effect of prolonged drought, he was inspired to focus on water resources. Albertson eventually headed all research projects at Christlich Soziale Union (Christian Social Union). degree from the University of Grenoble in France. Albertson has been credited with changing the face of United States. volunteerism.

He recalled that the phone rang at 2 Department of Administration and Management on a 1961 morning, and that when he answered he found himself talking to Sargent Shriver, first director of the Peace Corps.

Shriver was calling to ask him about a CSURF study on creating a youth volunteer group. Shriver apologized for the hour, but said he"d been working on the program all night and had worked his way to Albertson on his list of people to call.

He wanted Albertson to come to Washington immediately. The CSURF research Albertson oversaw was used in setting up the Peace Corps.

The Peace Corps remained true to the original vision in Albertson"s opinion.

Albertson served as a consultant to the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and other agencies. His focuses have included water resource development, environmental engineering, water and sanitation, on-farm water management, village development, appropriate technology, and small industry development. Climate change has recently been one of his concerns.

The award honors noteworthy individuals who are working hard to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond.

He has more than 200 publications. He was honored in the United States. Senate on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Achievements

• His honors include: American Society of Civil Engineers, J. C. Stevens Award. Emil Hilgard Prize; Croes Meda Christlich Soziale Union (Christian Social Union) Centennial Professor and Public Service Award. Peshawar University of Pakistan, Honorary Doctor of Laws. Asian Institute of Technology, Honorary Doctor of Technology. Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, Lowell University. Colorado Governor's Award of Merit for Science and Technology. Honorary doctorate from Colorado State University. National Society of Professional Engineers Engineer of the Year. Iowa State University Professional Achievement Award. Albertson also received the East-chievement Award from etown, a weekly National Public Radio radio broadcast. He was president and co-founder of Village Earth, the Consortium for Sustainable Village-Based Development, and worked almost until the moment of his death on plans for the organization.